Chapter 3

The next day I boarded a plane back to Los Angeles.

On the plane, the divorce agreement the lawyer I'd hired had drafted also arrived on my phone.

I looked it over carefully and had them revise a few small details.

I didn't want his company. I had other plans.

But I wanted all the cash and properties in our names. The value was also in the eight figures.

What I didn't expect was running into Jacob at the airport.

We stared at each other. Standing beside him was Leah, who'd supposedly been in surgery just yesterday.

Apparently it wasn't a life-or-death surgery after all.

After all, she could get out of bed the next day, even wearing beautiful makeup.

Leah's eyes were red with anxiety as she rushed to speak.

"Don't blame him. I'm the one who rushed him to come find you, aren't I?

"Of course I know wives are more important than friends.

"When I called him, I thought he didn't have plans for the holiday and could help out.

"I didn't expect him to hide the fact that he was going to your place because he was worried about me. I'm really sorry.

"You won't blame him, will you?"

Jacob snapped out of it and instinctively moved Leah behind him.

I'd hit Leah before. Since then, he'd never let me have direct contact with her.

At this moment, Jacob spoke in a heavy voice.

"This is my fault. Don't take it out on her."

The scene before me made me think of the phrase "mutual devotion."

I nodded and looked at Leah.

"Since you're here too, why don't you come sit at our place?"

She looked completely shocked. Jacob's brow furrowed. I looked at Jacob teasingly.

"Didn't you say there's nothing between you two?

"If you're just friends, you don't even dare bring her home?"

I walked ahead. Jacob followed behind with Leah.

"Don't talk with so much hostility. It sounds terrible.

"She's just a young, innocent woman. After you scared her last time, how would she dare come to our house?"

I stopped and looked past him at Leah.

Our eyes met. Leah suddenly smiled, a hint of provocation in her eyes.

"Since Iman invited me, of course I'll go."

I looked at Jacob again.

"Be a man. That bitch is braver than you."

As soon as we got home, I went to the study.

I printed out the divorce agreement, bound it, and went to the living room to hand it to Jacob.

"Take a look. If there are no problems, sign it.

"You can take your things and leave with her today.

"The company had my mom's initial investment of two hundred thousand. I don't want it.

"But all marital assets and properties are mine. Except for the company, give me everything else."

I finished in one breath. Jacob's expression went from shock to anger.

"What the hell is wrong with you?

"Does your mom know about this?

"You went through all this trouble just to say this? Even tantrums have limits."

I lowered my eyes and spoke flatly.

"I've already informed her.

"What mother doesn't want her child to be happy?

"She was good to you because she wanted you to be good to me. No matter how much she liked you, how could she value you over her own child?

"So you don't need to worry about what she thinks."

At this point, I glanced at Leah.

Her smile couldn't be suppressed. She looked at Jacob with determined confidence.

I smiled and continued speaking to Jacob.

"Now that things between us have come to this, you don't think my mom would still be nice to you, do you?"

Jacob grew angrier.

"What did you tell her?

"How many times do I have to say it? Nothing happened between Leah and me!"

I threw the divorce agreement in his face and spoke flatly.

"Does something only count as happening if you've slept together?

"Who did you adjust the passenger seat for?

"Our wedding anniversary, my birthday, my mom's birthday...

"Which special occasion this year didn't you spend with her?

"Did all her relatives and friends die?

"Does she need you, an irrelevant married man, to accompany her for a minor surgery?

"Jacob, we're all smart people. Don't treat people like fools, okay?"

My tone started out calm, but by the end my voice was trembling.

But Jacob said coldly, repeating, "I will not divorce you!"

He added, "If we divorce, your mom will be heartbroken!"

I instinctively shouted:

"My mom is dead! How could she be heartbroken?"